A Critical Analysis of the Australian Military Strategy

Abstract : The Australian military strategy has evolved since the Second World War to incorporate a maritime strategy that seeks to balance the primary requirement for the defense of Australia and wider national and global interests. The 2009 Defense White Paper outlines the extant Australian military strategy and seeks to articulate this strategy in the context of the contemporary and future strategic environment. The key failing of this strategy is the lack of clarity of what constitutes a maritime strategy in the Australian context. This paper contends that a more precise definition, including a stated priority to the concept of Sea denial, is required to enhance the quality of subsequent force structure and capability decisions and the overall deterrent effect.